The NKL-code for innate lymphoid cells reveals deregulated expression of NKL homeobox genes HHEX and HLX in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

ABSTRACT: NKL homeobox genes encode developmental transcription factors and display an NKL-code according to their physiological expression pattern in hematopoiesis. Here, we analyzed public transcriptome data from primary innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) for NKL homeobox gene activities and found that ILC3 expressed exclusively HHEX while in ILC1 and ILC2 these genes were silenced. Deregulation of the NKL-code promotes hematopoietic malignancies, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) which reportedly may derive from ILC3. Accordingly, we analyzed NKL homeobox gene activities in ALCL cell lines and investigated their role in this malignancy. Transcriptome analyses demonstrated low expression levels of HHEX but powerfully activated HLX. Forced expression of HHEX in ALCL cell lines induced genes

SUBMITTER: Nagel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7456612 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature